Vehicle-tire.



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

, GEORGE J. KELLER, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO JOHN ODONOVAN AND GEORGE. J. KELLER, OF SAME PLACE, AND WILLIAM ODONOVAN, OF GRAFTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

VEHICLE-TIRE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters latent Nd. 654,897, dated July 31, 1900.

Application filed September 19, 1899. Serial No. 730,993. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE J. KELLER, a resident of Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, havein- Vented a newand useful Improvementin Vehicle-Tires; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention relates to vehicle-tires; and

. to it hasfor its object to provide a cushion-tire which shall have the resiliency and other desirable functions of a pneumatic tirean'd at the same time have a longer life and be less liable to get out of repair.

I 5 Generally stated, my invention consists of a series of metal springs each of which comprises two approximately-concentric spirals rigidly joined at their inner ends and having their outer ends projecting in opposite direczo t-ions to form two concentric rings. The inner spring ends may be riveted or bolted to a wheel-felly, and the outer ends may be either riveted together, so as to constitute the wheeltread, or they may bereinforced by an outer hand or rim.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use myinveution, I will describe the same more fully, referring to the accompanying drawings, in whicl1 7 Figure 1 is an elevation of a bicycle-wheel with my invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is an elevation of a portion of the tire enlarged,

and Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the springs which constitutes the essential feature of my invention.

In the drawings, the letter a designates the hub of the wheel, which is connected to the felly b by means of the spokes c. The construction of the wheel itself does not form any part of my invention, and only a general description thereof is therefore deemed necessary. I prefer to form the felly b of a metal strip or band to which the spokes c are attached in any desired manner. The metal 5 springs d are also secured to the outer periphery of the felly b by bolts or rivets e. Any desired number of springs d may be employed, they being arranged, preferably, at, equal intervals around the felly. The width of the strips from which the springs are formed is substantially equal to the desired tread of the Wheel, and each spring has a substantiallyfiat base portion at, which is secured by one or more rivets e to the folly b of the wheel. The spring then curves up and around from the base portion 01, forming the first convolution, as shown at d, thence downward and back upon itself, as at d then again reverses and forms theend convolution d from which extends the end portion d which is of sufficient length to meet an offset (1 in the next spring, the two being secured together by means of one or more rivets f, as shown in Fig. '2. It will be seen that the spring thus formed constitutes a double intercoiled spiral, the two portions of which may have any number of turns or partial turns desired, provided they are either formed from a single strip of metal or have their inner ends rigidly joined together and are not materially shorter than those shown in the drawings. The springs are all made alike, and the whole series when connected to one another, as previously described, form a continuous tire, the portions 01 forming a continuous band of metal, which may be used as the wheel-tread itself, or a strip or band g of any desired substance-such as rubber, metal, wood, &c.-- may be secured thereto, as shown in Fig. 2. A strip or band 9 will probably be found desirable, since such strip when worn out may be replaced by a new one withoutrenewing the springs.

' On account of the double-spiral construction of the springs d the tire responds to tangential and radial pressure with substantially equal facility, thus providing an equal resilience in. all directions, such as obtains with tires of pneumatic construction.

I am aware that prior to my inventionit has been proposed to employ vehicle-tires embodying springs between the fellies and treads; but none of such proposed tires has embodied springs having either the structural or functional characteristics of those employed by me.

It will be understood that two or more springs may be formed from a single strip of metal, if found practicable and desirable, and that other minor variations from what is spe V vention. 1

stantially as described.

spirals rigidlyjoined at'their innerends and 1 citically illustratedmay bemade without de parting from the spirit and scope of my in- Ha'ving nowffully described my invention, What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,' is' 7""' r V 1. A vehicle-tire comprising a series ofcircumferentiaQy-arranged springs, each of which embodies two reversely-coiled spirals, in combination with annular bands to which the free ends of the springs'are fasten ed, sub- 2. Avehiolen-tire comprising a series of circumferentially-arranged springs, each of which embodies two reverselyinter-coiled spirals rigidly joined at their inner ends and having their outer ends projecting in opposite directions, 34A vehicle -tire comprising. a series of circumfe'r'entially-arranged springs, each of which embodies two reversely intercoiled having oppositely-projecting outer ends, cor f responding ends of adjacent springs being riveted together, thereby forming a continue ous circumferential band.

' 4.: A-vehicle-jtire comprising a series'of cir- J l KELLER, have.

- V Witnesses;

spiralsprings, the outer ends-- of V which project in oppositendirections and inconcentric circumferential lines, the ends lying on the outer circumference being provided with offsets adjacent to the spiral portions, against tinuous band.- i

5. A vehicle-tire comprising a series of in- .tercoiled'double-spiral springs, the free ends 'of 'which project in opposite directions to parts being riveted together to form a conform concentricrings, the portions constituting the outer ring being offsetand riveted together to form a smooth continuous. surface.

6. A'vehi'cle-tire comprising a series of double'reversely-intercoiled spirals, the free ends of which project in opposite directions to 2 form two concentric rings,-the inner one. of

which is reinforced by a continuous band and the outer one of which has its adjacent parts riveted togetherlto form a self-sustained continuous band.

In testimonywhereof I, the said GEORGE hereuntoset my hand. I GEORGE J. KELLER.

ROBERT C. TOTTEN,

cumferentially-arranged, intercoiled, double- GRACE 0. RAYMOND.

which the-adjacent spring ends abut, said 

